EU and the “Agenda 2030 of UN for Sustainable Development”

Sustainable development in a global context was defined by the 2015 UN General Assembly decisions and was dubbed the “Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development”. This Agenda was established on the basis of the seventeen (17) Sustainable Development Goals (Sustainable Development Goals-SDGs) (https://un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/ ).

by T.C.

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The Seventeen (17) Sustainable Development Goals

1. No poverty.   
2. Zero Hunger.
3. Good Health and Well-Being.
4. Quality Education.
5. Gender Equality.
6. Clean Water and Sanitation.
7. Affordable Clean Energy.
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth.
9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
10. Reduced Inequalities.
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities.
12. Responsible Consumption & Production.
13. Climate Action.
14. Life below Water.
15. Life on Land.
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institution.
17. Partnership.

Sustainable Development and the EU

To monitor whether all its efforts will be successful in meeting sustainable development, the EU has set up a monitoring system comprising 99 indexes of the seventeen (17) sustainable development targets.

Eurostat has undertaken this task of monitoring the relevant indicators. But that is not enough. To accelerate this work of achieving seventeen (17) sustainable development objectives, concrete steps should be taken:

1. To create a European body whose task will be to coordinate all Stakeholders-bodies to coordinate to accelerate the methods of success of sustainable development.

2. Currently, the political and institutional environment in the EU is conducive to such the creation of a coordinating pan-European body to promote development based on the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030).

3. The EU has a duty to lead this effort at global level and to be a emulated. The EU is responsible for producing only 16% of global greenhouse gas emissions and the EU is only 10%.

But if the EU gives a good example on this issue, it will be able to influence the biggest polluters, which are the US, China, and India in order. Only then will an organized reduction in greenhouse emissions, mainly CO₂, be achieved.

The aim of the EU to set an example for the rest of the world is favoured by the fact that the US has restricted its participation in an existing and fluid global multilateral system of international cooperation and since they have withdrawn from the Paris Agreement (Paris 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 21 ή CMP 11) on Climate Change.

4. Should the EU increasingly insist on the energy interconnection of all member countries and with such an energy framework that the cost of generating electricity remains low throughout its territory.

5. The fact that scientists around the world are convinced that pandemics are due to the systematic degradation and destruction of the environment and given the creation of the European Recovery Fund from 2021 are the main elements that will lead to the unhindered financing of the green transition.

The Commission’s five-year objectives and its political commitments

1. Reduce CO₂ emissions by 50% until 2030.
2. Promote legislation that will make the EU climate neutral by 2050.
3. Changes in all sectors of the economy that should contribute to this direction, air, and sea transport, tourism, etc.
4. Increase the cost of pollutant rights. There must be a price for those who do not they want to change and adapt.

EU initiatives to promote the Green Transition

1. An investment plan for a sustainable EU based on leverage of funds to finance investments of €1 trillion.
2. Conversion of the European Investment Bank into a bank on climate change.
3. Introduce a carbon tax at the border to ensure a level playing field and prevent carbon leaks in economies with more flexible legislation in this regard.
4. Establishment and operation of a Fair Transition Fund, to help financially the member countries that have fallen behind in these matters in relation to the other member countries.

The opportunities and challenges emerging from the green transition and the sustainable development strategy

The challenges presented by achieving the green transition at both Commission and member country levels are as follows:

1. All member countries without any exception must meet the budgetary criteria laid down by the Maastricht Treaty (officially known as the Treaty on European Union (1992)) and the Stability and Growth Pact (1997).

2. Member countries and their respective governments should have done very well by the right choice as to the investments to be financed by EU investment programs.

3. The strategic options should be Renewable Energy Sources (RES) with all financial and investment instruments that accompany them. As well as investments in the ever-increasing development of technology as well as electrification.

The road is long, difficult but the good preparation and organization required in such cases will ensure the success of achieving the seventeen (17) Objectives of Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030.